Posts Tagged ‘Black Numbers’

06.01.2010

Best Of 2009: Volume Two

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

5 Comments

I have decided to combine LPs and EPs together into one big end of the year lovefest. No rankings til I get to my Top Ten. Click on the album cover for any more coverage.

Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) “What It Takes To Move Forward” (Count Your Lucky Stars)

With a name like that they better be good! Pretentious emo to the max but in a good way of course.

Joie De Vivre “Summer Months” EP (Count Your Lucky Stars)

Imagine Mineral and Pavement having a beautiful bastard love child. Discordant, emotionally raw and powerful…what more could you ask for?

The Lawrence Arms “Buttsweat And Tears” 7″ (Fat Wreck Chords)

Perhaps not the huge splash I was expecting from new Lawrence Arms songs but better than 99% of the other bands out there. These guys are still pop/punk heroes.

AA Bondy “When The Devil’s Loose” (Fat Possum)

Proof that his debut was no fluke. Folk troubadour AA Bondy just keeps getting better.

Pswingset “Self-Titled” Demo (Self-Released)

Out of all the bands I discovered in 2009 I find myself wanting new Pswingset songs the most. This is indie/emo in the greatest sense and this demo was such a tease.

Castevet “Summer Fences” (Count Your Lucky Stars)

This album is awesome. But, it’s not as awesome as people say it is. As they mix styles Castevet is still finding their way but one can only imagine how amazing this is going to sound when they hit it just right. For now Summer Fences will do just fine.

Over Stars & Gutters “Consider This Your Curse” (Black Numbers)

Melodic hardcore has turned bland but bands like Over Stars & Gutters keep the flame going with passion and sincerity.

Gray Young “Firmament” (Self-Released)

I think Doves was a great comparison for these guys but where Doves are coming from Brit pop, Gray Young are coming from indie rock.

PJ Bond “You Didn’t Know I Was Alphabetical” (Black Numbers)

PJ Bond expounds on his debut with an album that ranks up there with greats like Rocky Votolato.

Snowing “Fuck Your Emotional Bullshit” 7″ (Square of Opposition)

Fuck your emotional bullshit sounds about right. Snowing play their brand of emotional hardcore loud, aggressive and mathy with vocals that will melt your face.

Tags: AA Bondy, Black Numbers, Castevet, Count Your Lucky Stars, Doves, Empire Empire (I Was A Lonely Estate), Fat Possum, Fat Wreck Chords, Gray Young, Joie De Vivre, Over Stars And Gutters, PJ Bond, Pswingset, Rocky Votolato, Snowing, The Lawrence Arms, Year End Lists

22.12.2009

PJ Bond’s Best of 2009

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

1 Comment

PJ Bond’s Best of 2009 (in no particular order)

Check out PJ’s amazing new album, You Didn’t Know I Was Alphabetical, out now on Black Numbers.

01. Dropping out of “real life,” and living a real life. April 14 – first day of the “Year Of A Thousand Roommates.”
02. NYC pizza tour 2k9 (7 friends, 10 hours, 9 pizza places and countless street beers.)
03. Grilled cheese party 2k9 (esp. roasted beet w/ goat cheese and horseradish cheddar with sauteed greens and caramelized onions.)
04. New Brian Bond LP – Your Love Is Strange
05. Touring the UK for the first time. (did so on trains and buses, which ruled.)
06. Made tons of new, amazing friends.
07. First big tattoo below the elbow. Huh, never realized those words had the same letters.
08. Fell in love with the best woman ever (though subsequently lost her. Still don’t regret it.)
09. Released You Didn’t Know I Was Alphabetical on Black Numbers, and finally felt legit.
10. Told social norms to go fuck themselves, and am still alive, arguably more so than ever.

Tags: Black Numbers, Brian Bond, PJ Bond, Year End Lists

12.11.2009

Higher Giant: Al’s Moustache

posted by Ian

in Music Reviews

6 Comments

highergiant

Well, this is weird. I mean, Higher Giant is a supergroup (of sorts) and it sounds like one; like a bunch of friends (from the Token Entry and Paint it Black pedigree) got together without much time to find consistency in a sound and decided to just roll with the musical punches. This approach sees success (album starter “See You Later, Chopstick”) while also inspiring head-scratches (“The Bad Investment”). There are some cool ideas here, like the Geddy-Lee-fronts-Lipona-or-Ryan’s-Hope-or-A-Wilhelm-Scream bite of the opener. But other tracks see a bit too much classic rock and metal as opposed to the punk sound that sets this band off. When the guys avoid the “Judas Priest gone prog while swilling Schlitz” vibe and focus more on melding their influences into a cohesive sound, they are much more successful.

If you’re looking for an interesting listen, this is certainly that. Problem is, while Higher Giant certainly have history in the punk/hardcore scene, they seem distracted by the novelty of melding their past successes with their personal influences. When it sounds honest, as in the first track and last track (“Union Square”), it really works. Unfortunately, the middle of Al’s Moustache is a bit too slow and confused. When tottering between two and three stars, I try and decide if the release sounds tired and played out or refreshing and new. It’s the latter for this one.

This is a band that needs more time and old-school jam sessions, but knowing the way these groups tend to release a record or two and then move on, I’m not holding my breath.

Label: Black Numbers

Higher Giant “See You Later, Chopstick”

Tags: A Wilhelm Scream, Beartrap, Black Numbers, Higher Giant, Lipona, Music Reviews, Paint It Black, Ryan's Hope, Token Entry

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